Aliyah Jamal Hassuneh always knew that she wanted a career in design – she just didn’t always know what that would look like.
“I went from wanting to be a fashion designer, to an interior designer, to a home stager,” she said.
But when it came down to it, she wasn’t sure the passion was there to pursue a career in one of those fields.
As her senior year of high school was coming to an end and she was starting to feel the pressure of what was next, her cousin posed the question, “What about architecture?”
“I didn’t really know what architecture entailed, so started to do some research on the field,” Hassuneh said.
It didn’t take long for Hassuneh to realize that this was a field that she’s always been interested in.
“My dad has been doing construction his whole life, and seeing his projects come together instilled a strong curiosity in me to understand how things are built,” she said. “I loved seeing how the buildings came together.”
She graduated from Rosemount High School in 2021 having completed full-time PSEO at Inver Hills Community College, and ready to start her next steps at Dunwoody in the Architectural Drafting & Design program.
“I was drawn to Dunwoody because of the small class sizes, the hands-on teaching style, and because their Bachelor of Architecture program is NAAB Accredited,” she said.
NAAB is the agency recognized by registration boards to accredit professional degree programs in architecture. Accreditation sets outcome-based criteria to assess programs and ensure they are providing a quality education.
Finding inspiration
“My family has been a big source of inspiration for me,” she said. “I have been so lucky to witness how they handle both successes and failures with grace.”
Hassuneh does her best to follow their example in her day to day life.
“Aliyah is a great student — inquisitive, hardworking, and committed to excellence,” said Senior Architecture Instructor James Wheeler. “Her approach to learning and the challenges presented by each course is positive and an asset to the classroom.”
Hassuneh has been recognized by faculty with the Academic Excellence Award for her program.
“She is a strong representative of Dunwoody’s academic and cultural values. She is always conscientious – a leader who connects people,” Wheeler said.
“Receiving the award validated how hard I have been working to better my skills and make connections within the field,” she said. “I am learning that you should never give up on yourself and try to not be intimidated by other people’s creative abilities. I think it’s important to remember that we are all learning and constantly improving.”
A highlight for Hassuneh has been working on her capstone, a final project that has allowed her to pull together much of what she has learned during her time at Dunwoody.
“My class was put into teams and tasked with designing a model for student housing on the Dunwoody campus that would include different amenities — community, wellness, and dining,” she said. “These types of mixed-use buildings are so complex, and I’m realizing how much I enjoy designing them.”
Hassuneh hopes to one day design spaces that bring people together and spark community connections. Particularly for those facing housing instability or have lost their housing.
“I am hoping to better people’s lives,” she said.
After graduation Hassuneh looks forward to continuing to work as a student worker in the Career Services office at Dunwoody. She also has plans return this fall where she will continue her education working towards a Bachelor of Architecture.